I know not how thou singest by Rabindranath Tagore (Text & Summary)

I know not how thou singest

by Rabindranath Tagore

(Text & Summary)

This is the third song of Tagore’s poetic collection, Gitanjali.

I know not how thou singest

I know not how thou singest, my master!

I ever listen in silent amazement.

The light of thy music illumines the world.

The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky.

The holy stream of thy music breaks through

all stony obstacles and rushes on.

My heart longs to join in thy song,

but vainly struggles for a voice. I would speak,

but speech breaks not into song, and I cry out baffled.

Ah, thou hast made my heart captive

in the endless meshes of thy music, my master!

Summary

It is a simple and beautiful poem. Through this small poem, Tagore says, that he really doesn’t understand how God sings. The music of God is not a music of words, but the music of silence. One can understand His music only when his soul, mind and body are in peace. The poet says, that when he is totally himself, true to his mind, body emotions and soul, only then he can feel God’s music. God’s music is meditative in nature and it illumines the world. The music is the music of meditation. It creates enlightened souls. The music is filled all over the universe. It is the life force flowing across the cosmos. This music is omnipresent. The person, who understands this music, is liberated of all worldly problems. God’s music is the medicine for the wounded soul, curing and enriching the person’s soul. After listening God’s music, poet’s heart longs to unite with Him. There is a great struggle inside him to join Him eternally. Tagore says, that God’s music is the music of silence and not of words. The poet looks at his inability to commune with His song. God has made poet’s heart captive in the eternal mysteries of His music.

Tagore looks at God as a great musician, a skilled master who creates melodious music even out of jarring and harsh notes. He attempts in vain to find out how God sings. Tagore says, that God's music is a music that makes him speechless and brightens the whole world. God’s music breathes life into every part of the world. It is an irresistible force. Tagore says, that His music is so beautiful that he longs to sing along with God, but he is speechless. The poet struggles to find his voice and when he does, he finds that he cannot sing. At this the poet is puzzled and cries out to God that he is trapped in the web of his music. The poem is a testimony to God's glory and the power of his music.

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